Mechanical responses and damage characteristics of the high-velocity impact of ice projectiles on foam sandwich structure.

• CFRP/PMI sandwich panels were experimentally studied under ice projectile impact with different incident angles and impact velocities. • The impact force of the ice projectile and the peak deformation of the target plate correlate with the ice projectile's normal velocity. • The energy absorption of the foam layer shows a quadratic positive correlation with the normal velocity of the ice projectile. The integration of composite sandwich structures in aircraft design necessitates consideration of hail impacts within aerospace applications. This investigates the dynamic response and damage characteristics of a carbon fibre/PMI foam sandwich structure under hail impact through both experimental and numerical simulation methods. These methods analyse the impact velocity, fibre panel thickness, and angle of incidence of the ice projectiles. The study establishes relationships among various parameters such as ice projectile impact force, foam absorption energy, and target plate deformation in relation to the impact velocity and angle of incidence. The damage sustained by the carbon fibre/PMI foam sandwich (CPS) structure due to ice projectile impact was systematically categorized and examined. Additionally, the effects of normal and tangential impact velocities on the target plate's dynamic response during oblique impacts were investigated. This research serves as a valuable reference for understanding the dynamic response and damage characteristics of composite foam sandwich structures subjected to ice projectile impacts, With a focus on the carbon fibre/PMI foam sandwich structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]